1972 250/8 should I sell or wait to restore? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 03-01-2003, 02:10 PM

I have a minor dilema. I recently moved from New England to the Coastal Carolinas to start up a company. When I moved I left my 114.011 in storage in New England with a freshly rebuilt 130.923 engine ready to be installed. Due to circumstances I will not have the time to complete the restoration for at least a year. I am also loosing my storage arrangements (the in-laws are retiring and migrating south... this years winter sealed the deal).

The car is a good candidate for restoration and I would love to have the chance to drive my autobahn cruiser someday but I don't have the time to complete the job and am considering selling it for a little less that what I have into it (around 3k).

My choices are to place the car in a storage facility for 6 mos and either locate a good merc mechanic to install the engine or pay to have the car shipped to my new home. The other option is to sell the car and the engine and search for another candidate in a couple of years. This has become a frustrating decision because I was hoping to use this car as a stepping stone into a 60's cabrio in the future. No I may have to reset the mission.

any advice for a long time lurker would be appreciated? thanx.

gmask · #2 03-01-2003, 03:15 PM

Assuming that the interior/exterior of this car is in really excellent shape you may have a really hard time getting $3k for it with the engine out even if it has been rebuilt.

You should beable to get it shipped for around $500
Cabriolet's typically sell for $25k to to as much as $60k and the 250 may hold it's value if it were complete and top out at $5k for a totally restored car.. they are not an investment and won't get you much closer to a cabriolet unless you convert it into one which I have thought about but It's probably not very practical or cheap to do.

300SDog · #3 03-01-2003, 04:07 PM

Where is the car located? If its at/near Fairfield County I know Merc shop that can install the engine for shipping costs - then cut a deal with you to drive it to Carolina.

Restoration is a relative thing - if it runs already, I'd just toss the new engine into the trunk, get the whole package delivered.... and sell whatever you are now driving.

Use value is greatest value of your car.... sittin on cinderblocks it aint worth much.

#4 03-01-2003, 04:14 PM

I don't view the 250 as an investment per se... I viewed it as more of a personal educational for learning more about the intricacies of mercs. That was where I was coming from regarding the stepping stone comment. I have recently had two bimmers shipped ($650 per car) however, both cars are in excellent driving condition. I would image the 250 would be more like $500 to crate and ship the engine and another $700+ to ship the body because it is not drivable. I figure it will cost me another 800 to 1000 to move and store it for 6 months if I choose to keep it in New England.

The problem is... I have no idea what it is worth? Aside from the purchase price of the car, my investment to date has been dedicated to the rebuild of the engine. To your point gmask, the car is only going to be worth around 5k when all is said and done. So I fret at the thought of investing money outside of the actual restoration to own this merc. Honestly, if the car was here with me in the Carolinas I wouldn't be nearly this frustrated and i would be happy to invest 4 to 5k to make it right. European sedans are a fun hobby and never really and investment outside of pure enjoyment.

The bottom line is that if I decide to sell it I would not be looking to get $3k for it. The cost of entry on the 250's was low for such an attractive mark so I jumped in. The interior is in excellent condition and the body is fair to good. I always joke to people that the car came with an unopened original first-aid kit in the passenger side foot well... neither here nor there I guess.

I am a little bit guilty and I should admit that I have a couple of bimmers that receive the majority of my attention.

What do you think I should sell this car for? I want to be sure to price it so that it sells in short order. I am willing to take a reasonable loss on my original investment. I don't want to be in a position where I have to nickle and dime with every joe six pack and I would ideally like to see it go to someone who will appreciate it. In other words, i want to make it a really good deal.

#5 03-01-2003, 04:24 PM

btw, gmask, do you know any other Unimog owners that would like a nice 2.8 I6?

gmask · #6 03-01-2003, 04:43 PM

>>>I don't view the 250 as an investment per se... I viewed it as more of a personal educational for learning more about the intricacies of mercs. That was where I was coming from regarding the stepping stone comment.

Well I can certainly appreciate that as that is pretty much my commitment to the 250 I have and I'd like to get a more exotic and expensive model in the future but beable to service it myself without the fear of destroying it ;-)

>>>I would image the 250 would be more like $500 to crate and ship the engine and another $700+ to ship the body because it is not drivable.

True.. too bad you can't just get the engine into the compartment that would not only make it easier to move but should make it more appealing to a potential buyer even if it's not all connected.

Check out they seem to have reasonable rates for large heavy shipments on pallets.

I got a quote for a 500lb pallette of surplus computers for $375.. I haven't used them yet though.

>>>The problem is... I have no idea what it is worth? Aside from the purchase price of the car, my investment to date has been dedicated to the rebuild of the engine. To your point gmask, the car is only going to be worth around 5k when all is said and done.

There's a online guide somehwere and If I recall correctly the top dollar for this car is $5k. The problem is convincing somebody to pay that much for it when they could get one for cheaper even if the engine has been rebuilt if the paint is not in great shape then that's costs $3k for a pro paint job... it's losing proposition

>>>So I fret at the thought of investing money outside of the actual restoration to own this merc. Honestly, if the car was here with me in the Carolinas I wouldn't be nearly this frustrated and i would be happy to invest 4 to 5k to make it right. European sedans are a fun hobby and never really and investment outside of pure enjoyment.

I'd say that at this point unless you want to keep this car for ten years that maybe you should cut it loose. If you wer eto spend any more money on it it should be to at least get the enign eintot he car unless you wish to gut the car and sell it for parts yourself.

You may beable to sell them seperately for a reasonable amount of money if you can afford the wait.

>>What do you think I should sell this car for? I want to be sure to price it so that it sells in short order. I am willing to take a reasonable loss on my original investment. I don't want to be in a position where I have to nickle and dime with every joe six pack and I would ideally like to see it go to someone who will appreciate it. In other words, i want to make it a really good deal.

I'd take it off your hands for a grand but my girlfriend will kill me if I get another car before getting rid of the shell of the other one I still have in the driveway ;-) I think you should beable to get more for it than that but probably not more than $2k combined if that.. most people interested will want to strip the body for parts unless the paint and interior or emaculate and selling the engine is a crap shoot. What documentation do you have for the engine? How extensive was the rebuild? etc.. the more info you can give the better when selling it. Use pictures!

I would highly reccomend ebay .. you add will be seen by a large numebr of people all over the country .. you can start the auction lwo if you want and let the market set the high dollar and if it comes up too low cancel the auction before it is over.

You might also post in the recycler.com .. although they are mostly california cars for sale there.. I think they are one of the large online advertisiers for used mercedes but they may be others closer to the cars locale.. it you could reach people in the area the car is located you will obviously be more likely sell the car and eninge because they won't need to be shipped. However I did sell an old engine and they guy drove 2 hours from Colorado with a hoist and trailer to get the engine.. so advertise and they will come.

gmask · #7 03-01-2003, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by doglegleft
btw, gmask, do you know any other Unimog owners that would like a nice 2.8 I6?

LOL.. I could send the guy and email and see if he knows anybody interested.

#8 03-01-2003, 05:56 PM

I recently priced a 190 HP MBZ 130.983 engine and auto transmission from a west coast dismantler, taken from a 280SL. The asking price for the package was $1250, which was what I consider a good price. The seller was honest in the fact that he provided the fact that the injection pump was inoperative. After pricing a new injection pump at $1700, I back out of the deal. What I am trying to infer is, that since you state that yours is a freshly rebuilt engine, you might be able to sell a complete with all accessories M130.? engine/transmission package for around $2000-3000.

gmask · #9 03-01-2003, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregg Bambo Jr
you might be able to sell a complete with all accessories M130.? engine/transmission package for around $2000-3000.

He might but not in a hurry.. I just don't think there are too many people looking to drop $2-3k on a 72 250 when you can buy a decent running car for that much.

#10 03-02-2003, 10:51 AM

thanx for all of your input...

here are the details of the rebuild.

-new cam
-complete valve job (reground, new seats, machined surface, etc.)
-crank shaft reground
-new bearings and rings
-new oil pump
-all new seals

I think around 2k for the entire package would be appropriate. I have to imagine that my rebuilt has some value. I am fairly certain that I could sell the car for $500 prior to the rebuild. However, while I want to sell it quickly I don't want to let it go for an unreasonalbe price. As I reason this, it seems that the cost to have an engine rebuilt is more than an asking price of 2k. So I may have to wait a while but I have to imagine that the buyer of this car already has their 250 so they would view this as a rebuilt engine with good / complete parts car.... right? who knows

gmask · #11 03-02-2003, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by doglegleft
I think around 2k for the entire package would be appropriate. I have to imagine that my rebuilt has some value

Well how much did you pay for the rebuild?

#12 03-02-2003, 04:12 PM

doglegleft,
Was it an oversight or was the fact that a rebore on an engine that old was not done correct? I, as a buyer, would not pay a premium price for an engine that was labled as a rebuilt that didn't include a rebore, align boring,new pistons and balancing in addition to the items you outlined. Also was the overhaul done by a Mercedes specialist? Surfacing the head and deck require knowledgeable adjustments to the valve train due to the overhead cam. Just making a comment so that you price it right.

gmask · #13 03-02-2003, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregg Bambo Jr
doglegleft,
Was it an oversight or was the fact that a rebore on an engine that old was not done correct? I, as a buyer, would not pay a premium price for an engine that was labled as a rebuilt that didn't include a rebore, align boring,new pistons and balancing in addition to the items you outlined. Also was the overhaul done by a Mercedes specialist? Surfacing the head and deck require knowledgeable adjustments to the valve train due to the overhead cam. Just making a comment so that you price it right.

I was kind of wondering the same.. If you buy an engine from Adsitco you pay $5k but I guess you know that you are getting a pro job ..otherwise you don't really know what you are getting.

ctaylor738 · #14 03-02-2003, 05:12 PM

My experience is that a non-running engine is a very hard sell. Gmask is right -the exception is one rebuilt by a reputable shop and backed by a warranty. And M130 carb engines are not exactly in demand.

I would think that $450-500 is a reasonable estimate the way yours sits. You could probably double that if it were running with 180 psi compression and good oil pressure readings.

Financially, you are hosed any way you go. If you have someone put it back together and sell it, you might get $1800 for it, and would probably spend at least $750 to get it running.

You could pay $1200 to crate and haul, and spend another $200 or so to get it running yourself. You can do the math.

As it sits, it is probably worth $700-800.

So from where I sit, you are marginally better off to pay someone to get it running and sell it. But managing a major mechanical job long distance has its risks.

My advice would be to let it go as is, so you're not distracted working your butt off in your new business, and making a pile of money so you can afford your cabrio.